Q60 Red Sport turns up the performance wick

April 19, 2017

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Infiniti’s return to the hi-po coupe world is a pretty one -- the Q60looks gorgeous. I can’t put my finger on what stands out most about the car: the cool trim at the base of the C-pillar, the handsome shape or the vent at the edge of the front fenders. Regardless, it all adds up to a really attractive vehicle.

I’ve had experience with Infiniti’s recently updated drive-by-wire system with the first drive of the sedan version of this platform, the Q50, and in that case, it wasn’t bad. I don’t know if this is a case of unmatched expectations and realities, but I’m less a fan of the drive-by-wire system in this Q60. Even in the most aggressive setting, it feels like I'm playing "Gran Turismo" with a high-end Logitech, Thrustmaster or Fanatec gaming wheel. While that’s fine for some heavy Cheetos and chill duty, it isn’t confidence-inspiring on the road.

The stacked media-system touchscreens can be frustrating to navigate at times, too -- especially if you’ve started poking around on the map and find yourself accidentally setting those places as your destination. Eventually you’ll figure out how to stop doing that, but it will take a few minutes. The rest of the interior is nicely configured, and the touch points are wrapped in supple leather and feel as good as nearly anything else out there.

One quirk: If you happen to have a flat tire in the time you own a Q60, or any similarly spec’d Infiniti, you’ll be welcomed with a helpful but eventually annoying flat tire warning message that can seemingly only be erased by a dealership. While it’s great that the car’s technology lets us know when a tire loses air, it would be a good idea for it to reference the tire pressure after the fact and recognize that it isn’t actually flat.

Would I buy the Q60 over a 4-Series, C-Class or LexusRC? While I’d be happier to look at this in my driveway than the radically styled Lexus, I think the steering is a big drawback on this Infiniti. I’d happily stare at the 4-Series or C-Class and enjoy the positive feedback from the steering wheel, but some will likely find the Infinti styling calling to them.

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Weather conditions never warranted me testing our site’s listed 5-second 0-60 time, nor was I really ever going to take advantage of the 400 hp. That said, playing with the drive mode selector allowed me to dial in a really comfortable, fast cruiser and, thanks to AWD, a fast, lag-free and controllable one. Also a hellofa good replacement for a G37, a car I never really loved. I found myself in standard mode most often, finding the ride, steering and throttle response too twitchy in sport and/or sport plus, especially in this weather. The one time I got the car out on a mostly dry freeway, I thought it was perfectly comfortable for two, less so for four.

On our site, we quote Infiniti product planner Keith St. Clair saying, “The fact of the matter is, nobody ever needed a coupe.” Driving this car for the weekend and attempting to haul people, load the car with groceries, trying not to slide into stuff -- it all underscored St. Clair’s comments for me. It’s too impractical for my needs, or at least it was for what I needed to do over the weekend.

Gimme this car on a gorgeous summer chore-free weekend, though, and I bet my impressions would do a 180.

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Yeah, I’m with Wes: This car looks awesome, best-looking Infiniti by far. It’s both wedgy and curvaceous, and the lighting treatment is cool. The rims and small wheel wells pull the package together nicely.

Power is nice and smooth from the twin-turbo V6. It sounds great, too, but some of that is pumped in through the speakers. Regardless, it's way better than the last few Qs and 370Zs, which had a metallic, tinny exhaust note. Takeoff is a little jumpy. It’s smoother in Eco and Snow modes, more violent in the sportier ones. It feels brawny up to triple digits, which I did not hit on the slippery roads, but it’s easy to come close on a freeway entrance ramp. Shifts are quick, with just a little break in torque, and thrust continues up to redline.

The steer-by-wire system is a little weird. There’s zero feedback, and it feels overboosted by a mile. The wheel also doesn’t spring back to center when you let it go, it just sort of lazily rolls back to straight. I’m not sure if I hate it or if it’s fine -- I’d have to get it on a track for that, but I definitely don’t love it. The suspension is a tad on the bouncy side, but generally, it's a good mix between ride and handling.

I guess this would be a BMW M4/C63 competitor, though the C has way more power. Looks-wise, I like the C63 first, then this Q60, then the M4. On a racetrack, I’m now picking the C63 first, then the M4, then this. But for anyone trying to look cool and have some fun on the road, this is a good choice.